FAU Celebrates Summer 2017 Commencement

By kelsie weekes | 8/8/2017

Florida Atlantic University conferred more than 1,800 degrees during three commencement ceremonies in the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium, FAU Student Union, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. The new graduates joined more than 155,330 alumni who have graduated from FAU since the University opened its doors in 1964.

“Congratulations to our graduates on all of their hard work and accomplishments,” said FAU President John Kelly. “I join their family and friends in celebrating this major milestone, and wish them nothing but success in the future.”

Olumide Adenmosun, 31, graduated with a master’s degree in business administration during the 5 p.m. ceremony. Adenmosun recently received a $150,000 grant to continue his research on bat populations in Africa, and whether molecules from these bats can be adapted as possible vaccines or therapeutics against the Ebola and Zika viruses. He’s also been working with a team of scientists in Africa to develop a rapid-diagnostic kit that can diagnose Ebola faster. Outside of his work in Africa, Adenmosun is an adjunct instructor in microbiology at FAU, and is working on a novel sperm characterization study that was recently published as a commentary in the Archives of Clinical Microbiology. Following his graduation from FAU, Adenmosun will continue his research and work to establish his biotech start-up company, Eurekan Biotech, in Africa. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences at FAU in the near future.

Josh Puchferran, 23, received his master’s degree in accounting during the 5 p.m. ceremony. For the last four years, Puchferran has served as FAU’s mascot, Owlsley, and will wear Owlsley’s feet one last time as he walks across the stage to receive his degree. As the FAU mascot, Puchferran has attended hundreds of student, athletic, administrative and off-campus events. He also served in Campus Crusade for Christ, Student Government, Beta Alpha Psi and is a member of the FAU Accounting Scholars Program, where he completed his undergraduate accounting degree in three years and continued into the master’s program. He has accepted a job at Grant Thornton, one of the world’s largest accounting firms.

Some interesting statistics regarding the summer graduating class include the fact that 29 of the graduates are over the age of 50, and three are over the age of 60. The youngest graduate is 18, and the oldest graduate is 73. The graduates represent 35 countries.

For the convenience of family members and friends who could not attend the commencement ceremonies, the proceedings were cybercast at www.fau.edu.

Florida Atlantic University embodies a culture of strategic and collaborative community engagement that results in mutual benefit to the institution and the diverse internal and external communities that it serves.